Politician,
statesman and economist (b. 10th of January 1949 in Istanbul- d. 8 May 2023, Istanbul. He completed his undergraduate and
master’s degrees in England,
London School of Economics and Political Science, and his PhD degree in the United States of America, University of Princeton. After giving
lectures between 1973-77 in
the field of economy in Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) and Princeton
University,
he started to work in the research department of the World Bank in 1978. In 1982 he was
assigned to the Head of Global Industry Department, Industry Strategies and
Policies Office and stayed here until 1986. Later he directed Europe, Middle East and
Northern Africa Economy Experts. Advancing quickly in his field he was assigned
to the Head of Middle and Eastern
Europe desks upon the collapse of the
Eastern Bloc. He contributed to the transition of these countries into market
economy. In the same time he managed World Bank’s and European Union’s
“Reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina”
program.
Kemal
Derviş by the end of 1994 was one of the founder members of “New Democratic
Movement” (YDH) led by the businessman Cem Boyner together with Asaf Savaş
Akat, Cengiz Çandar, Can Paker, Etyen Mahçupyan, Kemal Anadol, and Mehmet
Altan. However after the defeat of YDH in 1995 elections he left this party
together with many of its founders and returned to his profession.
He
was assigned in 1996 to Vice Presidency of World Bank responsible for Middle
Europe and Northern Africa.
Derviş who was Vice President of World Bank responsible for Mediterranean and Northern Africa
countries was the second Turk who undertook this duty after Atilla
Karaosmanoğlu. Later he directed World Bank’s Middle Europe Desk as its Head.
Upon
being invited to Turkey in
2001 by Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit he was assigned to the Ministry of Economy
on the 3rd of March 2001. He resigned after the decision of
elections by the beginning of August 2002.He tried to reconcile New Turkey
Party (YTP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the left and intended to
include Democratic Left Party (DSP) to this union. However he failed and
decided to join CHP. With a ceremony organized on the 23rd of August
2002 he became a CHP member. Derviş was elected as Member of Parliament of
Istanbul in the General Elections of 3 November 2002and entered the parliament
from the cadre of CHP.
Kemal
Derviş later upon the suggestion of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan
was selected as the head of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) between
15 August 2005 and 15 August 2009 and resigned from his Membership of
Parliament on the 9th of May 2005. He is a member of Sabancı University’s International
Council Board.
Death:
Kemal Derviş died on May 8, 2023 in Istanbul. Finally, he was married to his second wife, the American Catherine Derviş.
WORKS:
The
European Transformation of Modern Turkey
Daniel Gros (Çağdaş Türkiye’ninAvrupa Dönüşümü. With Michael
Emerson and Sinan Ülgen, 2004), For a Better
Globalism (Daha iyi bir Küreselleşme, 2005), Ekonomi ve Finans, Modern Türkiye 1981-2011 (2006), Kemal Derviş Anlatıyor:
Krizden Çıkış ve Çağdaş Sosyal Demokrasi (produced by
Serhan Asker – Yusuf Işık, 2006).
REFERENCE: Sefa Kaplan / Bir Kurtarıcı Öyküsü (2001, s. 7-9),
Neyyire Özkan / “İlk Derviş kitabı piyasada” (Hürriyet Pazar, 10 Haziran 2001),
Tanıl Bora / “Medyanın ‘Dervişizm’ merakı” (Medyakronik, 2 Temmuz 2001),
“Bunalana kurtarıcı bulunur” (Radikal Kitap Eki, 23 Kasım 2001), Vitrindekiler
(Cumhuriyet Kitap, 3.2.2005), Serhan Asker – Yusuf Işık / Kemal Derviş
Anlatıyor: Krizden Çıkış ve Çağdaş Sosyal Demokrasi (2006), Selim Somçağ /
Türkiye’nin Ekonomik Krizi Oluşumu ve Çıkış Yolları (2006), Erol Bilbilik /
Amerikaperestler (2008), İhsan Işık / Resimli ve Metin Örnekli Türkiye
Edebiyatçılar ve Kültür Adamları Ansiklopedisi (2006, gen. 2. bas. 2007) – Ünlü
Devlet Adamları (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 1, 2013) - Encyclopedia of
Turkey’s Famous People (2013), Kemal Derviş hayatını kaybetti (hürriyet.com.tr,
08 Mayıs 2023).
